Mitsotakis from Kastelorizo: Athens seeks dialogue with Ankara but will not accept threats to sovereign rights

Following a symbolic three-day stay on Kastelorizo, an island considered one of the most sensitive areas in Greek-Turkish relations, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a clear message to Ankara. He said Greece seeks dialogue and calm relations but will not tolerate threats or challenges to its sovereign rights.

Mitsotakis’ visit to the island, which lies very close to the Turkish coast, took place after a month of escalating rhetoric between Athens and Ankara, reports Top Channel correspondent Aleksandër Marku.

“We do not threaten anyone, but neither do we accept threats or dictates from anyone. You know this better than anyone, living every day so close to a country with which geography itself has destined us to coexist,” Mitsotakis said.

Tensions between the two countries, which are both NATO allies and rivals, resurfaced in mid-August. During that period, Turkey declared two “national marine parks,” one in the northeastern Aegean and the other in the Eastern Mediterranean, near Kastellorizo. Athens considered these measures illegal in areas that, according to Greece, lie outside Turkish jurisdiction and within the Greek continental shelf.

Ankara also reacted to Greece’s plans to develop renewable energy in the Aegean. Turkey revived its claims regarding the so-called “grey zones,” while the two governments exchanged diplomatic notes.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on Greece to abandon the militarization of several Aegean islands and advised Athens “to learn from history.” In Greece, these statements were seen as a sign of a return to the harsh rhetoric used in previous years.

During the same period, Greek authorities reported almost daily flights by Turkish Bayraktar drones in the northeastern Aegean. Athens has officially reiterated that, under the Law of the Sea, it retains the right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles.

Despite the tensions, communication channels between the two countries remain open. The Greek government has reiterated that its objective is dialogue and the avoidance of a new crisis with Turkey.

During his stay on Kastelorizo, Mitsotakis also announced economic measures aimed at encouraging residents to remain on and relocate to the island. The package provides 5,000 euros a year for each family, an additional 1,000 euros for each minor child, as well as special incentives for civil servants, military personnel and members of the security forces serving there.